ABU DHABI (AFP) - The football may not be of the quality expected at the Euros, but there is always something compelling about watching national teams duke it out for their continental crown. Here is a look at the five leading contenders for football's Asian Cup, which starts in the United Arab Emirates on Saturday (Jan 5):
Australia
The Socceroos won the biggest title in their history at the last Asian Cup in 2015, where they edged South Korea after extra time to win a thrilling final in Sydney. It provided further vindication for their switch from Oceania to the Asian confederation in 2006, since when they have never failed to qualify for the World Cup.
However, Australia's star has dimmed in recent times, and after reaching Russia 2018 via the play-offs they exited without a win, scoring only twice in their three group games. New coach Graham Arnold must fill the void left by retired record scorer Tim Cahill, and get the goals flowing again, if the Socceroos are to keep the trophy in Australian hands.
Iran
Asia's top-ranked team won credit at last year's World Cup, where they were edged 1-0 by Spain and finished 1-1 against Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal, before exiting at the group stage. However, they will want to go home with more than just praise at the Asian Cup, a tournament where success has eluded them since their run of three straight titles ended in 1976.
Ex-Real Madrid coach Carlos Queiroz, also a former assistant to Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, has forged a formidable unit which was unbeaten in World Cup qualifying, strolling into the Asian Cup along the way.
Last time around, Iran went out on penalties to arch-rivals Iraq in a pulsating quarter-final which featured four goals in extra-time and a contentious second yellow card for simulation to Iranian defender Mehrdad Pooladi. Similar fireworks can be expected when the two teams meet for their final Group D game on Jan 16.
Japan
Japan go into the Asian Cup chasing a record-extending fifth title and in a rich vein of form. The Samurai Blue are unbeaten in five games since Hajime Moriyasu replaced Akira Nishino as coach after their surprise run to the knockout stages of last year's World Cup.
But Japan embark on their Middle Eastern adventure without two players who epitomise their waspish energy - Shinji Kagawa and Shinji Okazaki. Both were omitted by Moriyasu, who looks to Red Bull Salzburg's Takumi Minamino to provide the creative spark in Kagawa's absence.
Portimonense's Shoya Nakajima and Groningen's Ritsu Doan will add thrust as they try to avenge their 2015 Asian Cup flop when they crashed out in the quarter-finals. Southampton defender Maya Yoshida and Galatasaray full-back Yuto Nagatomo bring experience to Japan, who face Uzbekistan, Oman and Turkmenistan in Group F.
Ranked 50th in the world, behind Iran (29) and Australia (41), anything less than the semi-finals would be seen as failure for Japan.
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabiaplayers listening to the head of the General Authority for Saudi Sport, Turki Al-Sheikh (centre) at the Luzhniki stadium in Moscow on June 13, 2018, ahead of the Russia 2018 World Cup football tournament. PHOTO: AFP
The former giants of Asian football need to reverse a poor run of form as they look to return to the winners' circle for the first time since the 1990s. Victories in 1984, 1988 and 1996 made the Saudis the continent's premier side but despite reaching the 2000 and 2007 finals they have been unable to add to their tally.
There was not much to shout about at last year's World Cup, when Saudi Arabia lost 5-0 to Russia in their opening game and never recovered. In the UAE, a short hop over the Saudi border, Juan Antonio Pizzi - the fourth coach in the Saudi hot seat since the 2015 Asian Cup - can expect an easier ride than in Russia as they open against North Korea on Tuesday.
However, Saudi Arabia flopped at the last Asian Cup, going out at the group stage, and they are under pressure heading into this edition after winning only one of their six games since the World Cup.
South Korea
In Tottenham Hotspur's swift forward Son Heung-min, South Korea boast Asia's most exciting player and they will be regarded as narrow favourites to hoist the trophy on February 1. The Taeguk Warriors showed their quality when they stunned holders Germany at last year's World Cup and they came within a whisker of winning their third Asian title in 2015, going down to James Troisi's extra-time strike for hosts Australia in the final.
Son will miss South Korea's first two games, against the Philippines and Kyrgyzstan, owing to club commitments with Spurs. But with a wealth of talent including Newcastle's Ki Sung-yeung and goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo, man of the match in the 2-0 win over Germany, South Korea should have at least one foot in the knock-out stages by then.
ABERDEEN, Scotland (AP) — A joint World Cup bid by North and South Korea is being talked up by FIFA President Gianni Infantino. "I have been hearing for the Women's World Cup in 2023, the two Koreas," Infantino said.
Joint Korean bid for 2023 Women's World Cup floated by FIFA
Pedro scored a vital away goal for Chelsea in their Europa League semi-final first leg 1-1 draw against Eintracht Frankfurt. There was a raucous atmosphere ahead of kick-off and the home fans were
Chelsea draw 1-1 at Eintracht in Europa League semi first leg
Nov 21, 2018 · Qatar would help Middle East peace by sharing 2022 World Cup, says Infantino the World Cup will kick off in Qatar on Qatari teams were still playing football in Asian Football
Ayoze Perez heads Newcastle closer to safety in EPL Newcastle United took a huge step towards securing their Premier League survival as Ayoze Perez sealed a 1-0 win against Leicester City on
Perez heads Newcastle closer to Premier League safety | AFP.com
Chelsea report Burnley over insults aimed at Maurizio Sarri a number of sources state that someone on the Burnley bench repeatedly called Sarri a 's**t Italian' prior to the
What Burnley said to Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri to spark
Apr 18, 2019 · The Champions League final this year will be the eighth in a row without Pep Guardiola, which perhaps should not feel as extraordinary as it does. This is, after all, knockout competition; odd
Guardiola: De Bruyne nearing Man City return
Football: Palace climb away from troube with 3-1 win at
May 06, 2019 · Liverpool host Barcelona tomorrow in the second leg of their Champions League semifinal. The Reds have it all to do after losing the first leg in Barcelona's Nou Camp stadium, 3-0. But it is
Liverpool's Champions League win over Barcelona will stay
Just days after Italy saw Moise Kean become its youngest scorer in over 60 years, Sampdoria striker Fabio Quagliarella set a new mark on the other end of age range
Quagliarella becomes oldest Italy scorer | The Daily Star
With a more durable run-in than Arsenal - the Pink Devils nonetheless must play Metropolis and Chelsea - Solskjaer nonetheless has quite a bit to do. However, if he can get via these "six-pointers", they'll finish the time period with a flourish provided that their last two video games are in opposition to groups within the backside
Arsenal favourites with easiest run-in - theworldnews.net
Madrid, Feb 28 (IANS) FC Barcelona were outplayed by Real Madrid for much of their Copa del Rey semifinal second leg, but the visitors did enough to prevail 3-0 on the night and 4-1 on aggregate
Barcelona beat Real Madrid 3-0 to reach Copa del Rey final
super soccer tv live streaming persib
super soccer tv live streaming piala dunia
watch soccer game live now
watch premier league live streaming free
watch us soccer live stream
super soccer tv live streaming indonesia
watch soccer online free streaming live
watch champions league live streaming malaysia
watch epl live streaming on iphone
watch soccer online free streaming live p2p
watch live streaming soccer games
super soccer tv live streaming napoli vs juventus
watch english premier league live streaming hd
watch soccer online free live streaming hd
watch coppa america live streaming sub eng
watch soccer online free streaming live english
watch coppa america live streaming hotstar
watch premier league live streaming quality
tv soccer live stream sky
watch coppa america live streaming spain
watch coppa america live streaming in india
where to watch champions league live streaming
watch soccer online free streaming live iphone
watch soccer live streaming reddit
watch soccer live streaming qatar
watch soccer aid live stream
watch champions league live streaming xbox one
watch coppa america live streaming totalsportek
watch premier league live streaming live free
watch soccer online free streaming live without registration
watch coppa america live streaming ronaldo 7
watch champions league semi final draw live stream
watch english premier league live streaming online
watch champions league online free live streaming hd
watch premier league matches live streaming
watch champions league final online free live streaming
watch soccer live live football streaming cr7
watch premier league live streaming yify
watch live english premier league online free streaming
watch coppa america live streaming india
watch champions league draw live stream total sportek
where to watch free live soccer streaming online
watch live soccer stream android
watch champions league live streaming mobile
watch soccer live streaming zee tv
watch champions league live stream uk
watch coppa america live streaming live free
watch champions league live streaming live
how to watch soccer live streaming free
watch coppa america live streaming usa
watch soccer live stream hunter
watch live stream soccer games online free
watch coppa america live streaming juventus vs manchester united
watch premier league games live stream
watch soccer online free streaming live reddit
watch champions league live streaming kenya
watch soccer live streaming kenya vs ethiopia
watch soccer games online free streaming live
watch premier league live in stream
cpl 2018 live streaming watch caribbean premier league t20 2018
watch premier league live streaming zee tv
watch premier league live streaming juventus
watch premier league stream reddit
watch coppa america live streaming twitch
watch live soccer streaming on iphone
watch champions league live streaming pc
watch coppa america live streaming putlockers
watch coppa america live streaming quality
watch soccer live stream app
watch sky sports premier league online free streaming live
watch live soccer online free streaming now
watch premier league live streaming xbox
live football watch free live football streaming free soccer
watch the champions league live stream
watch live streaming of premier league football
watch champions league live streaming zee tv
watch coppa america live streaming direct
watch champions league live streaming live free
watch coppa america live streaming total sportek
watch champions league live streaming video
watch soccer live streaming hd
watch premier league live stream hd
watch live premier league football streaming online for free iraqgoals
watch champions league simulcast live stream
watch soccer live stream links
watch coppa america live streaming game
watch coppa america live streaming indosiar
#villarealcf #thomasmeunier #PartyTime #boxing #golazo #oudmehta #liverpool #gunners #watchlive #goal #streamingbolaid #football #coys #chocolate #seriea #realmadrid #gym #portsmouthfc #mancityvsliverpool #battuteepiche #liverpool #myfootballuniverse #girlsniteout #liverpoolfc #sunderlandafc #24x7 #coutinho #chocolatecoffee #conference #manchestercity #comico #americanfootball #goodday #Celtic #league1 #livestreaming #GarageCafeDxb #liverpoolcity #Liamgallagher #sixtimes #zidane #footballmeme #serieatim #lionelmessi #soccermemes #cristiano #firmino #kroenkeout #soccer #premierleague
0 Comments